asha received orders at Assouan to go up to Khartoum
in Giaffar Pasha's place: it is a civil way of killing a fat old Turk, if
it is true. He was here a week or two ago. My informant is one of my
old crew who was in Fadil Pasha's boat.

I shall wait to get a woman-servant till I go to Cairo, the women here
cannot iron or sew; so, meanwhile, the wife of Abd el-Kader, does my
washing, and Omar irons; and we get on capitally. Little Achmet waits,
etc., and I think I am more comfortable so than if I had a maid,--it
would be no use to buy a slave, as the trouble of teaching her would be
greater than the work she would do for me.

My medical reputation has become far too great, and all my common
drugs--Epsom salts, senna, aloes, rhubarb, quassia--run short.
Especially do all the poor, tiresome, ugly old women adore me, and bore
me with their aches and pains. They are always the doctor's greatest
plague. The mark of confidence is that they now bring the sick children,
which was never known before, I believe, in these parts. I am sure it
would pay a European doctor to set up here; the people would pay him a
little, and there would be good profit from the boats in the winter. I
got turkeys when they were worth six or eight shillings apiece in the
market, and they were forced upon me by the fellaheen. I must seal up
this for fear the boat should come; it will only pick up M. Brune and go
on.

April, 1866: Mrs. Ross

_To Mrs. Ross_.

EED EL KEBEER,
_Wednesday_, _April_, 1866.

DEAREST JANET,

I had not heard a word of Henry's illness till Mr. Palgrave arrived and
told me, and also that he was better. Alhamdulillah! I only hope that
you are not knocked up, my darling. I am not ill, but still feel
unaccountably weak and listless. I don't cough much, and have got fatter
on my _regime_ of camel's milk,--so I hope I may get over the languor.
The box has not made its appearance. What a clever fellow Mr. Palgrave
is! I never knew such a hand at languages. The folks here are in
admiration at his Arabic. I hope you will see M. Brune. I am sure you
would like him. He is a very accomplished and gentlemanly man.

You have never told me your plans for this year or whether I shall find
you when I go down. The last three days the great heat has begun and I
am accordingly feeling